Nightly Presence
Once upon a time I saw night like day
Having no fear from absence of daylight
Sun or moon, I enjoyed both in the same way
Loved the coming of stars in the twilight
Peaceful became dread like the greatest sin
Fearing not the dark but what lurks within
Hidden well from sight are those beings that wait
Existing between the folds of darkness
They are not obvious, made dark like hate
They invite the warmth to leave for coldness
Truly frightful to meet one yet sublime
Creatures of night never seen from daytime
Hardly ever felt at night, so beware
The shadows held no secrets once before
But one dreadful night, I chanced upon it
Ghost! Might sound ridiculous I admit
Yet it was as real as the moon lit dime
Glaring from the desk, like a great comic
My hearth skipped a beat for the first time
My brain urgently forwarding logic
I could not focus on its form on first sight
It stood in the gloom capturing no light
A presence which started out as a blur
Hairs stood on ends at the ghostly figure
Stillness became my only objective
Confronted by him I could not believe
The apparition was there yet not there
Seeming to take form within the darkness
Seeing through him like glass, he seemed harmless
Spirit or ghost I did not know for sure
Scared witless as I was I could not say
My only thought, how to keep him at bay
The specter was then kneeling near my feet
We stared at each other for a long time
To have seen him almost felt like a crime
As if we were never suppose to meet
I could make out his figure very clear
Sadness filled his eyes, removing my fear
It seemed to be pleading, but not with words
A Cheever ran along me like a sword
Are ghosts unable to make any sound?
He seemed ready to howl like a hound
Suddenly, a hand rose towards my face
This disturbing movement hard not to miss
My eyes strained to follow the fathom hand
As it swooped towards me, unstoppable
Ghosts can’t be stopped; it’s the law of the land
To make him gone, I felt incapable
I hid under covers for protection
Shutting my eyes from this confrontation
Uttering in my head, be gone, be gone
Until morning light chased away the dread
I never saw a ghost ever again
My conscience being as heavy as led
Copyright © Jean-Michel Aucoin | Year Posted 2009
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